CVE-2026-21245: Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Overview

Severity

High (CVSS 7.8)

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

Category

Elevation of Privilege

Exploit Status

Not Exploited

Exploitation Likelihood

Less Likely

Patch Tuesday

2026-Feb

Released

2026-02-10

Last Updated

2026-02-10

EPSS Score

0.03% (percentile: 9.8%)

Description

Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Kernel allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

FAQ

What privileges could be gained by an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability? An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain SYSTEM privileges.

Affected Products (8)

Windows

• Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)
• Windows 11 Version 25H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 25H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows Server 2025
• Windows 11 Version 26H1 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 version 26H1 for x64-based Systems

Security Updates (5)

• 5075899
• 5075942
• 5077181
• 5077212
• 5077179

Acknowledgments

Pedro Miguel Justo Teixeira

Revision History

• 2026-02-10: Information published.
• 2026-02-10: Acknowledgement Updated